The prospect of a hysterectomy, that is, removal of the uterus, is always overwhelming for a woman, regardless of her age. “It is often experienced as a real castration” affirms Dr Jean-Jacques Weitzman, gynecologist-sexologist. “Of course, the shock will be all the greater as the patient is still of childbearing age.”
However, although they are apprehensive about this operation, many women experience it well, especially when their doctor has taken the time to consider with them the surgical technique best suited to their case.
No scar
Gone are the days when we systematically proceeded to the “total”, that is to say the removal of the uterus and ovaries. When medically possible, you can keep your ovaries. So even if you don’t have your period, hormone production continues and you don’t go through menopause. Otherwise, it is possible to benefit from hormonal treatment to relieve the bothersome symptoms that may appear.
Since the 90s, surgeons have favored the “low way” method (the vaginal route), which is much less painful, which also leaves no scar and limits the length of hospitalization to three days (instead of one. week). But this technique is only possible under certain conditions (uterine fibroid not too large).
On the pleasure side, nothing changes
In all cases, the operation lasts between 60 and 90 minutes and can be followed by bleeding for a few days. But there is no reason why the quality of your intercourse should be impaired. The absence of a uterus will not change your pleasure or that of your partner. But if it is psychologically important to you, the doctor may consider a subtotal hysterectomy, that is, leaving the cervix in place. Perhaps you will suffer from a small temporary drop in desire but, anyway, you will have to wait until the postoperative consultation, a month later, before having sex again.
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